IHC orders Imran Khan, Bushra's meeting with legal team within a week

Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the advocate general Islamabad to arrange a meeting between former prime minister Imran Khan, his spouse Bushra Bibi and their legal counsel within seven days to facilitate the filing and prosecution of appeals against their conviction in the £190 million reference. 

A division bench comprising IHC Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif resumed hearing appeals challenging the conviction awarded by an accountability court in the high-profile National Accountability Bureau (NAB) reference. During the proceedings, Imran’s lawyer Barrister Salman Safdar informed the court that despite repeated efforts he failed to meet his client, who remains incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. 

Resultantly, he could neither obtain instructions nor secure a signed vakalatnama (power of attorney) for the appeals. 

The counsel submitted that jail authorities had consistently denied him access to the former prime minister. He pointed out that NAB had recently filed an application contending that the petitions seeking suspension of sentence had become infructuous or were no longer maintainable after the main appeals against the conviction had been fixed for hearing. 

Salman Safdar argued that without instructions from his client, he was unable to effectively pursue the matter before the court. 

Chief Justice Dogar questioned the absence of the advocate general, observing that the law officer was responsible for ensuring that legal counsel were granted access to incarcerated clients whenever required for court proceedings.

Expressing concern over the situation, CJ Dogar remarked that denial of access to legal counsel was unfortunate and could impede the administration of justice.

The bench subsequently directed the advocate general Islamabad to ensure Imran and Bushra’s meetings with their counsel within seven days so that legal formalities, including execution of the vakalatnama (power of attorney) and obtaining instructions, could be completed.

The court deferred further proceedings until after the meetings take place and the necessary authorisation documents are signed. Imran is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail in the £190m case, also known as the Al-Qadir Trust case.